When I was 57

Am writing on July 23, 2015, the day before my 87th birthday and a planned party at the Central School Museum in Kalispell. It has been a busy hectic week for me so decided to grab an older column from 30 years ago to see what was going on then. Have at it:

On an average day in the news there is bad stuff, sad stuff, mad stuff, and glad stuff. We've all noticed that? Take last Tuesday for example (August 1985).

The South African President, P.W. Botha, gave a speech saying his government had to continue keeping the black population in a position of absolute control by the white minority. He said this, knowing full well over 600 people have been killed in recent rioting and it seems obvious to even the least informed among that such violent if continue, will surely destroy the nation. Here in America, Rev. Jerry Falwell announced his support for Botha's apartheid and said he will campaign against the U.S. Senators who will be voting for sanctions against South Africa next month in Washington. Any way I look at this situation, it comes out as bad.

In Beirut, Lebanon, the Christians exploded two car bombs in the Muslim sector of town and killed 25 people while wounding 75, including many children. They did this because the Muslims set off similar bombs on Saturday and killed 50 Christians. This means that under the rules they fight by over there, the Christians will have to set off at least one more bomb before Friday, just to tie the score. This is mad.

Two men got into a disagreement along the rail of an overloaded passenger ferryboat on the Songhua River in northeast China. Most of the people rushed over to watch the altercation, and that made the boat so unbalanced, it capsized. Out of over 300 people on board, only a few from the upper deck managed to swim to shore. A majority of them were trapped and drowned ... killed by idle curiosity over a two bit first fight. That is sad.

Three women and a man, all in their 20s, were back packing in the mountains near Durango, Colorado, when they saw a helicopter coming in to land at a camp spot. The idea of a helicopter landing in the Weminuche Wilderness so enraged this quartet that they immediately began throwing rocks at the helicopter and then ... possibly to frighten the intruders away, they took off all their clothes. The helicopter pilot thought he was seeing things ... and he was.

He decided to immediately leave the area with his passengers and supplies; however, he soon returned with a load of deputy sheriffs. The nature lovers repeated the rock throwing and strip tease act, but when threatened with arrest, explained that they were trying to protect the wilderness. When the Sheriff pointed out they were not even near the Weminuche Wilderness, our naked quartet apologized profusely, and retracted with blushing cheeks. That is glad.

G. George Ostrom is a national award-winning columnist for Hungry Horse News. He lives in Kalispell.